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Tuesday, April 30, 2013

It's been pretty clear all along that the administration has plenty to hide about the Benghazi attack that left four Americans dead after being abandoned by White House direction. And the minute the survivors returned home they apparently experienced Chicago style politics practiced so consistently by this administration.

And now the truth is coming out about the Benghazi survivors being threatened with career-ending repercussions if they dare to tell the truth about what happened. Of course, what's to keep the administration from killing their careers anyway? We need a serious Congressional investigation!

Does anybody really believe what Obama said at the press conference? He reminds me of Sergeant Schultz on the old Hogans' Heroes sitcom. "I know nuthink, I see nuthink...." Well, maybe he was partying or playing golf when his thugs were threatening the survivors!

Duh! NO....they might have the office of the president targeted by a pressure cooker bomb! But hey, it's "all in good fun" if it's mocking the pope! No need to address the bigotry and barbarianism of the student's action. The Catholic League is pointing out the university's double standard and duplicity.

And how much does it cost to attend this bastion of civility? One of our sons got his Masters at this poor excuse for a university. I will urge him never to give a penny to their alumni fundraisers!

1. The Saudi person of interest almost immediately dropped off the radar screen even after Michelle Obama visited him in his hospital room.

2. Russia had the brothers and their mom on a watch list.

3. The pressure cooker bomb is a type that Al Qaeda has used in Pakistan and Afghanistan and they give assembly instructions for would-be terrorists. The level of sophistication has led some authorities to speculate that the brothers needed more than on-line instruction and had help with the bomb's construction.

4. There is growing concern that the brothers had outside help in other ways and did not act alone. There may be plans for more attacks in the U.S. Authorities believe the brothers planned to explode more devices in New York's Times Square.

On Friday, President Obama addressed Planned Parenthood ending his talk by saying, "God bless you, God bless Planned Parenthood." to this terrorist organization that kills babies by the hundreds of thousands every year while leeching off the American taxpayer.

Now look at these two terrorist pictures and tell me what's the difference except the size of the victims and the fact that one person survived.

Yes, Planned Parenthood is every bit as much a terrorist group as the two Boston bombers. And PP causes the same kind of murderous devastation! Work to de-fund and expose these serial killers who masquerade their terrorism as "women's reproductive rights." The two Tsarnaev brothers would no doubt describe their terrorist act as an expression of jihadist rights.

But any honest person looking at these two photos would admit that both violent acts are evil. And what does it say about those who justify these evils as a "woman's right to choose?" Do they also defend the right of other terrorists to choose? Why not?

Sorry to bring you the bad news, Planned Parenthood, you are no different than the Boston bombers who were willing to kill innocent people. And your cheering section resembles Islamic extremists who approve of and cheer on the terrorism.

As for Barack Obama and his abortion extremism...God doesn't bless evil, Mr. President and that means you weren't addressing the God who is the way, the truth, and the life. So what God exactly were you addressing when you wished blessings on the bloody terrorists at Planned Parenthood? Baal? Molech? Allah akbar?

Pray and work to expose Planned Parenthood as the terrorists they are!

How do you think a liberal responds to this story? Does he praise the man with the gun who used it to save God-only-knows how many people from injury or run to the section of the store where knives are displayed and pull them all off the shelves screaming, "Knife control! Knife control!"?

It is hard to imagine how anyone could be more insulting to a person than to attack his mother. And yet, it seems attacks on the Virgin Mary are not only fashionable today, but the rage! A new play on Broadway described here:

is blasphemous to such a degree it takes one's breath away. To read about our Blessed Lady being portrayed as a cigarette-smoking, booze-guzzling pagan who mistrusts and dislikes the apostles and ends up stripping naked at the end of the play brought tears of rage and sorrow to my eyes. It also reminded me of the reason for the five first Saturdays devotion.

In July 1917 during her apparition to the three little shepherd children at Fatima, Our Lady said, “I shall come to ask... that on the First Saturday of every month, Communions of reparation be made in atonement for the sins of the world.”

In 1925 she again appeared to the only surviving seer, Lucia, with the baby Jesus

Saturday, April 27, 2013

The root of abortion is contraception! Let me say it again. The root of abortion is contraception! The court decision that ushered in Roe v. Wade was Griswold v. Connecticut. And until Humanae Vitae is preached and preached and preached, attacking abortion is like cutting the snakes off the head of Medusa. They will grow back stronger than ever. Cardinal Burke recognizes the importance of individual bishops fighting the culture of death relentlessly. But it must include calling people back to the integrity of the sexual act itself. Contraception is a love-killing act that precedes the baby-killing act. Both need to be fought vigorously by our shepherds. Instead of giving awards to pro-abortion politicians and leaders, they need to start acting like supporting the murder of the innocent is the atrocity it really is. Cardinal Dolan (and other princes of the Church in the United States), stop honoring and kowtowing to the modern Hitlers in our midst. Hitler didn't kill the innocent personally, he developed the policies and authorized the atrocities. When you honor our modern Hitlers and Stalins and Pol Pots and Maus, you become a serious part of the problem. Please act like men, like shepherds who defend the sheep from the wolves and fathers who face death rather than let their children be slaughtered. Please, Your Excellencies, stop giving us stones and snakes when we ask for bread and fish!

Rush is spot on about this one! Why are the media portraying this guy as an all-American kid? It's sick! Take a look at the photo below showing the 8-year-old killed in the blast standing with his mother and sister who were also seriously injured in the blast. Dzhokar dropped his backpack next to little Martin and his family. Was that an accident or did this "all American kid" choose that spot deliberately where there were lots of youngsters? Why is the media showing photos of him when he was 14? Dzhokar will get his day in court. Little Martin got capital punishment terrorist style.

This is a kid -- now a dead kid:

This is not a kid -- this is an accused terrorist on a killing spree standing next to his accomplice. He looks to me like he's pretty happy about the chaos he's about to unleash on these innocent people:

Friday, April 26, 2013

In 2010 Pope Benedict explained why those who received Communion from him personally must kneel and receive on the tongue:

The idea behind my current practice of having people kneel to receive Communion on the tongue was to send a signal and to underscore the Real Presence with an exclamation point. One very important reason is that there is a great danger of superficiality precisely in the kinds of mass events we hold at St. Peter’s, both in the Basilica and in the Square. I have heard of people who, after receiving Communion, stick the Host in their wallet to take home as a kind of souvenir. In this context, where people think that everyone is just automatically supposed to receive Communion — everyone else is going up, so I will, too — I wanted to send a clear signal. I wanted it to be clear: Something quite special is going on here! He is here, the One before whom we fall on our knees! Pay attention! This is not just some social ritual in which we can take part if we want to.

I once read a quote from a non-Catholic who said if he believed what Catholics say they believe about the Real Presence, he would crawl up to receive Communion on his hands and knees. Does my disposition show this kind of belief and respect for the risen Lord who comes to me in Holy Communion?

Oh, how I wish we would return to using the altar rail and kneel for Communion. It not only shows respect for Jesus in the Eucharist, but is the great equalizer where college presidents kneel side by side with their students, where company presidents and CEOs kneel next to their employees, where presidents kneel beside secretaries and clerks, etc. There is no favored place at the table when one approaches the Communion rail. How I wish its use would return. I think our pope emeritus would approve as well.

Does it never end? Earlier this month Cardinal Dolan presented the Elizabeth Ann Seton Medal to Anna Maria Chavez, CEO of the Girl Scouts. Only one problem. Chavez has been up to her neck cooperating with pro-abortion democrats and abortion advocates throughout her entire career, so why exactly is she being recognized with an award from the Church? St. Elizabeth Seton must be rolling over in her grave.

And once again Cardinal Dolan demonstrates that he is anything but a role model for Catholics who love the Lord and His creation, especially the least ones. The two articles below tell the story. And it is a shameful one for Cardinal Dolan. His list of scandals just keeps growing and growing.

Check out Honest Girl Scouts to see how far this once admirable group has fallen. Today it partners with Planned Parenthood, favors cartoon pornography for young girls, and generally undermines morality. Check out the shocking truth! And then ask yourself whether any Catholic cleric can legitimately support this group without cooperating with evil.

Preamble:Four years and twenty-four" letters ago, I started reading and writing about the issue of whether Barack Obama was ever eligible to have sought the Presidency of the United States. As I progressed, doubt quickly changed to certainty....certainty that he had perpetrated the greatest political deception ever against our Country. What follows below is a cumulative recap of my letters, which, I believe,will sustain what millions are now proclaiming: "The man currently in the White House is not,and never was, the President of the United States"!

The rhetoric is incredible. All those folks whose homes are being invaded describe being terrified (not by the terrorist, but by the FBI thugs) and then, amazingly, they justify the warrantless searches. Now what would have happened if somebody said, "No, you need a warrant and I'm not leaving my home." Would the SWAT team break down the door, drag them out, and arrest them? Or would they shoot first and ask questions later?

Excuse my cynicism, but this event has all the earmarks of preparing Americans to accept any kind of unconstitutional bullying from the police. What will people say when the cops start going house to house looking for guns like they did in New Orleans? Have you forgotten the little old lady they brutalized? (See video below.) Do you remember the gun targets of ordinary folks purchased by the feds to lower officers' natural resistance to shooting pregnant women, children and old folks? They're called "No more hesitation targets."

We wouldn't want the police to hesitate before shooting a kid or a pregnant woman. Hey, they already used overkill on that poor old lady in New Orleans.

Wake up, America. Sad to say these "events" whether natural disasters or a terrorist situations give the brown shirts an excuse to violate the rights of citizens.

Thanks to Lila Rose and Live Action, Planned Parenthood's (PP) complicity in covering up statutory rape was exposed. Some states are even prosecuting the serial killing giant. The latest skeleton in PP's closet, though, is the fact that they knew what was going on in Gosnell's house of horrors and did nothing about it. Hey, he was an abortionist and no matter the level of butchery, abortion must be protected at all costs!

The Philadelphia Inquirer broke the story (below), no doubt inadvertently, about PP's knowledge of Gosnell's business. Author Morgan Zalot quoted the Philadelphia affiliate's CEO, Dayle Steinberg, admitting they encouraged Gosnell victims to report him to the health department. Gosnell has now become for PP proof of PP's "need." But are they much different? Hardly!

NOTED FEMINIST Gloria Steinem took the podium at the National Constitution Center on Tuesday night,

I thought the video below was fascinating. And as I watched the women come out looking prettier to others than to themselves, I began to wonder how God sees us. How did Jesus see the woman at the well? How did He see Mary as she washed His feet with her tears and dried them with her fair? How did He see the woman taken in adultery? How did He see Mary when she mistook Him for the gardener near the tomb?

God loves us so intimately and knows everything about us and knows exactly how beautiful we are. The closer we draw to Him, the more we become the beautiful creation He made.

What would a sketch of you look like if the person describing you to the artist was Jesus or His mother Mary?

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

The Kermit Gosnell trial has been shining plenty of light on the sickening underbelly of abortion including Planned Parenthood and their support for killing babies born alive after abortion. Does that explain President Obama ditching a major PP event tomorrow?

Let's face it -- It's ALWAYS about Obama's image. So the man will speak at a low-key event on Friday instead with less of a press profile.

Wonder how PP feels after their 15 million investment to get their man elected. And now he goes and disses them in their hour of need when the spotlight is glaring on their support for infanticide. Ah well....politicians are so fickle, but no doubt Obama will still keep the federal dollars rolling into PP's coffers.

This will be interesting to watch. As they say...there's no honor among thieves and the only moral position we can depend on from Obama is what's good for Obama. Sorry, Planned Parenthood, you're expendable. If you become a liability to Barack you're down the toilet.

The world's silence over the Islamist Turks' annihilation of the Christian Armenians from 1915 - 1924 emboldened Hitler's attack on the Poles. Who now remembers the Armenians? he asked when members of his staff demurred over his plans. I remember as a child my mother urging us to eat and not waste anything. We were so blessed. "Remember the starving Armenians," she often said.

Don't let this genocide be forgotten. It was, in fact, the first genocidal atrocity of the 20th century. It is as well documented as the German holocaust against the Jews. And yet, like other atrocities, the deniers are out there including high level government officials. Representative Brad Sherman has encouraged President Obama to acknowledge the Armenian genocide Rep. Adam Schiff did the same. . Obama, politician to the core, won't use the word. Since his election, he has avoided calling genocide genocide. As he did again this year calling it "Meds Yeghern" which means "great calamity." A "great calamity" is an earthquake or a devastating forest fire or a deadly hurricane. The Armenian massacres were "genocide." Does the word matter? It sure did in Rwanda. The U.N. refused to call the assault "genocide" which would have required continued action in the country. Instead, they pulled out all their troops leaving the Tutsis at the mercy of their enemies who engaged in the bloodiest machete attacks, even against women and children. "Kill the cockroaches," was the government's clarion call broadcast daily over the radio. And the Hutus proceeded to do it slaughtering up to 3/4 of the Tutsi population.

Yes, the Armenian assault was genocide by the Islamist Ottoman Turks against the Christians, the same type of attacks going on today in Iraq, Iran, the Sudan, and many other places. It needs to be recognized for what it was. Instead, Turkey portrays it as a control measure against a rebellious population. The Armenian news service Asbarez calls Turkey, "the original pioneers of genocide denial." Denial matters! Revisionist history undermines reality and allows perpetrators of evil to deny evil. It must be confronted. Scroll down and watch the video by the French writer on this website and check out the photographs.

Words matter. What happened to the Armenians was not just a "great calamity," it was premeditated slaughter of a population because of their religious beliefs. It was carried out systematically just like the genocide by the Third Reich two decades later and it annihilated 1.5 million men women and children through outright murder, forced marches, and other gruesome means including crucifixion of women (Does that tell you something about the religious connection?). One of the murdered, along with his flock, was Blessed Ignatius Maloyan, Archbishop of Mardin. His testimony about the persecution of the Armenians is a primary, historical source.

Remember the Armenians today. Pray for the repose of their souls and for the mercy of God on their exterminators and those who, even today, perpetuate the lie by denying what really happened!

If Jack Kevorkian, Dr. Death, were still alive he would be 85 next month. The euthanasia activist was an outspoken and enthusiastic advocate for killing the sick and handicapped, something he apparently enjoyed doing personally. He finally ended up in jail for practically daring the government to prosecute him after he gave one man a lethal injection and then released a video showing it. He ended up serving about eight years in jail.

The gruesomeness of the Gosnell trial, with the graphic description of his murders and the grim jokes about the poor little victims reminded me of Jack Kevorkian this week. The only difference? The size of the victims. How do you get inside the brain of a serial killer? With Kevorkian, it was pretty easy. He left behind a body of paintings that illustrate, I think, that he was a madman. Take a look at his "art" and see if you agree. Frankly, I think he was possessed. He certainly hated religion as the two pictures relating to God illustrate.

"For He is Raised"

"Very Still Life"

I could not find a title for this painting, but it seems to me to indicate a connection between abortion and murder of the weak. Is the emaciated man a symbol for Kevorkian's victims? I wonder how Kevorkian himself saw it, but I expect no matter what he said there is a subliminal message.

"Nearer My God to Thee"

When I looked at this picture I could only imagine that it is a soul being sucked down to hell. And the "god" would have to be the Lord of this world. Did Kevorkian himself grasp life like that as he reached the end? I can't imagine he had a peaceful death.

Abortionists have the same gruesome attitude toward death. If you read The Death Peddlars by Fr. Paul Marx or read reports from abortion meetings infiltrated by pro-lifers you see the macabre jokes and the almost compulsive fascination with death talk. It's creepy. Jack Kevorkian took the creep factor and made it visible for all to see with his "artworks." Interestingly, this most unnatural man died a natural death. May God have mercy on his soul.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Is it any surprise that the backing off began with the Archdiocese of New York? Does anyone expect Cardinal Dolan to show evidence of real backbone. Hey, we wouldn't want Obama to decline the next Al Smith Dinner. While the lawsuit continues, it's pretty clear that the archdiocese isn't going to play hardball which is the only thing tyrants understand.

The three murder counts dismissed related to live born babies who were crying and struggling for life. Gosnell snipped their spinal cords to kill them. But apparently it's okay with the judge to murder living babies in cold blood. Wow! I wonder if it's okay to snip the spinal cords of stupid judges. Ya think? Do you think serial killer Gosnell will get off with a wrist slap or maybe a short term for all his killing?

Oh, and here's what the monster was doing about 40 years ago (See more here.) - using poor women as guinea pigs even before abortion was legalized - which demonstrates once again that the same butchers who were doing illegal abortions (like Milan Vuitch in D.C. and Kermit Gosnell in Philadelphia) simply moved their shingles from the back alley to Main Street. Abortion has always been a butcher's practice. Making it legal just opened up the meat market for the butchers to do more business. And the biggest butcher shop in the United States has a Planned Parenthood sign out front. They do about 40% of the abortions with millions of dollars of your tax money!

Opponents will gather and pray in reparation for this abomination. TFP Student Action has a petition you can sign. Don't be silent. Pass this around. Let's make it viral. Catholic schools that betray their identity need to be called out!

I was staring at the paschal candle this morning at Mass thinking how much I love to see it there
during the Easter season and at baptisms and funerals when it reminds us so graphically that Jesus is the light of the world, our hope and salvation. Well, that set me to wondering when and where the custom of lighting the paschal candle originated. The short answer is...nobody knows for sure. In 384 St. Jerome wrote a letter to a deacon in Piacenza, Italy named Presidio describing a hymn that praised the candle and the Easter mystery. That indicates the custom was already well established.

The most likely origin is that it derived from the Lucernarium, the evening office with which early Christians began the vigil for every Sunday and especially that of Easter. In turn, this rite is probably inspired by the Jewish custom of lighting a lamp at the conclusion of the Sabbath. The rite therefore has its roots in the very beginning of Christianity. In the Lucernarium rite the light destined to dispel the darkness of night was offered to Christ as the splendor of the Father and indefectible light. This Sunday rite was logically carried out with greater solemnity during the Easter Vigil.

Monday, April 22, 2013

Let's get this straight. Two bad guys commit an act of terrorism and an entire town is locked down, houses are searched door to door, private citizens are forced out of their homes at gun point and illegally searched. They did the same thing in New Orleans after Katrina. What if a citizen refused and demanded the police provide a search warrant? Would they have been shot?

1) Stop using contraceptive drugs. They pollute the ground water and contribute to genetic changes in fish. Use Natural Family Planning and be open to life and love.

2) Love your spouse and family. Don't get divorced. A couple who stays together lives in one housing unit instead of two. That saves trees and other natural building materials, reduces energy because of shared appliances, and reduces stress on the kids making them more likely to hug a tree instead of kick it. Studies show that kids whose parents divorce have a lower life expectancy and engage in riskier behavior. Do the planet (and your kids) a favor by staying together through "good times and bad."

3) Instead of wasting time and money at the mall on stuff you don't need, take a hike and praise God for giving us this beautiful earth and making us its stewards.

4) Take your kids or grandkids on a litter walk. (Wear gloves.) Tell them stories about being responsible and caring for their neighborhoods. "Once upon a time there were two little children who lived in a pleasant village. Unfortunately, it had a McDonalds on one end of town which was a Big Mac away from their house. Every day they found foil wrappers, fry holders and empty drink cups scattered on their front lawn...."

5) Don't use weedkillers on your yard. Let the dandelions give it that cheery color. You'll be doing the honeybees a favor too. They like dandelions! In fact, if you don't use herbicides you can eat dandelions. The leaves are good in salad and the flowers can be breaded and fried. Really! Maybe I'll make some for dinner.

6) Have a garden swap. Trade plants with your neighbors. You'll add new plants at no cost. If you want lamb's ear I've got plenty. Also I'd be glad to share daffodils and lilies. The forsythia is volunteering as well. And the chives are growing everywhere. Want some Greek oregano? Got that too. Gardeners are the best friends on earth. They love to share!

7) Ignore the environmental wackos who think the best thing you can do for the planet is kill yourself. God made you in His image and likeness to take care of and enjoy the earth. You are the pinnacle of His creation. Tell a friend!

We call it a "war" on terror. When there are clear signs of a connection to global terrorism (pressure cooker bomb fancied by jihadists, connections to Islamic radicalism indicated by tweets, emails, etc.) it seems labeling terrorists as enemy combatants engaged in a war against the American people makes good sense. What do you think?

Saturday, April 20, 2013

I can't stop laughing after reading a description of a new biography of Bishop Walter Sullivan who spent 29 years decimating the Diocese of Richmond which still hasn't recovered. The last time we went to Virginia Beach we visited two churches on Saturday morning and neither one had morning Mass. The parish we went to in Hampton for Sunday Mass was so filled with liturgical abuses we decided not to receive Communion. (The bread used for consecration looked like gingerbread and the fraction was performed by ladies helping out at the altar.) You can read about that particular abomination here.

Walter Sullivan persecuted orthodox priests, allowed rampant dissent to rule in Richmond, and helped advance the homosexual agenda. He allowed a parish in the Norfolk area to hold an ecumenical liturgy where the Protestants and Catholics shared the Liturgy of the Word then went to opposite ends of the hall for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. When I wrote to object I got a letter signed by the bishop saying he was well aware of it and claiming it was legit. Disobeying Holy Mother Church was not a problem for him.

Planned Parenthood, the homosexual lifestyle, abortion, etc. It's all outlined at HonestGirlScouts.com. Why not print some of these flyers and carry them around. When you get hit up by those precious little girl scouts pass the moms the flyer and say with a big smile. "I'm sorry, I just can't support Girl Scouts. Wish I could. I love Thin Mints."

I have a bedroom (I call it the dormitory) that has four single beds in it which is often filled with six or seven granddaughters sleeping on the beds and spilling over to the floor. Today I was looking on-line for ideas for simple, easy to make bed ideas. In the course of my search I stumbled upon a delightful blog by a home-schooling mom called The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking. It is filled with charming and practical ideas -- that even inspire an old grandma like me. And the title reminds me of Chesterton's admonition that if a thing is worth doing it's worth doing badly. Amen to that!

And here's one idea I plan to put into practice next time grandkids come to play: a s'mores basket. Yummy! Wouldn't this make a lovely hostess gift for a family with children? You'd be their favorite guest!

Before I go any further, let me clearly state that my comments are based in part upon current news reporting, and — as recent events have proven — contemporary news reports are notoriously unreliable. I’m writing this post under the assumption that the suspects are, in fact, from Chechnya or from nearby Chechnya. A few quick observations:

Friday, April 19, 2013

You know....a white, anti-choice conservative who clings to his guns and his God.

So sorry, Chris; two more Islamic extremists. But, hey, with the policies in this country being what they are, we will no doubt see more terrorism. So you will probably get more chances to exhibit your shameless bias. And bombings are so good for ratings! (Do I sound like I hate the fourth estate? Funny thing....)

The Washington Post's Sally Quinn, like most of their writers, is an unregenerate liberal. And, like most liberals, she engages in rhetorical gymnastics to justify her moral (actually immoral) positions. So on abortion Quinn can say (with a straight face one presumes):

I have total respect for those who believe that life begins at conception. I do not. My belief is that when a fetus is viable, when it can survive on its own, then it is a human being. My beliefs are based, not on religion, but on my own sense of morality. I do not want others imposing their religious beliefs on me. (Read column here.)

Thursday, April 18, 2013

So....what exactly is going on? Were the Saudis involved in the bombings? And if this guy is not a suspect and had nothing to do with the bombings, why is he being deported? Something stinks here! Watch the videos and hear the reporter say the reasons being given for canceling the photo shoor, "doesn't wash....I find it hard to believe that you would expect us to believe that that's the real reason for this."

I love the Church. She gives us seasons of celebration that last for weeks. Most people miss it at Christmas trashing the decorations just when things are getting started. Easter too. I'm sure most folks have their sights set on Memorial Day. But every morning when I say morning prayer, the antiphon before the first psalm is, "He is risen, Alleluia!" Every morning I feel a thrill as I think once again of Jesus risen. So here's a video to reflect on during this continuing Easter season. Rejoice and be glad for He is truly risen from the dead and seated at the right hand of God!

And while we're talking about pressure cookers, Al Qaeda has taught would be terrorists how to use pressure cookers for home made bombs for years. The Department of Homeland Security was so concerned about the international terror connection, they issued an alert as early as 2004 about pressure cooker bombs. The 2010 NYC SUV bomb that failed to explode was also a pressure cooker bomb. So, while the perpetrators of this horror are still unknown, it's certainly a realistic possibility that this is another radical Islamic attack. Now wouldn't that be a surprise?

...but the Huffington Post had plenty to say about Erik Rush and his sarcastic comment about Muslim terrorism. What a bunch of hypocrites! Did anybody notice HuffPost object to Chris Matthews' speculation five minutes after the bombing that it was "far right" domestic terrorists? Apparently, implying that a terrorist act is the work of Christians or Tea Party folks is okay, but not Muslim extremists. I think both sides should shut up, but Erik Rush is getting the hate treatment for his insensitive comments. Gosh...imagine...the kind and compassionate liberal left getting a hate on! Who wudda thunk it?

The video on this website is interesting because the lies go on and on. Alex Seitz of Salon has the utter gall to claim that the feminists see Gosnell as basically going back to the back alley and he's the reason we need "safe, legal abortion."

Hello! Earth to Alex. Gosnell WAS one of those guys offering so-called safe, legal abortion. And it's the abortion establishment that opposes every effort to regulate abortion mills. If Gosnell's abortion mill wasn't inspected for 17 years, it's because the abortion movement OPPOSES any meaningful regulation.

Seitz sets up a dichotomy with "Planned Parenthood" as though women seeking abortion can expect to be treated better at PP. Is he kidding? Check out PP's atrocities here (killing Tonya Reeves in botched abortion in Chicago) and here (filthy "meat market" in Wilmington) and here (botched forced abortion in Colorado) and here (botched abortion in VA Beach) and here (three botched abortions between Thanksgiving and Christmas at St. Louis PP!) and here (botched abortion, ectopic pregnancy misdiagnosed) and here (list of ambulance visits to PP over 20 months). Planned Parenthood does about 40% of the abortions in the U.S. Investigators have uncovered unsanitary conditions, massive Medicaid fraud, botched abortions, massive cover up of statutory rape, etc. This is what Alex Seitz considers "safe" abortion?

Watch this interesting video. It's good to see the media FINALLY talking about Kermit Gosnell. Troy Newman of Operation Rescue West does a great job of presenting the pro-life side of the debate.

Recently, I came across Fr. Peter Cameron, O.P.'s keynote address at a year of faith meeting in the Raleigh Archdiocese. Fr. Cameron is a Dominican and editor of the wonderful daily prayer book, Magnificat. In the course of his address, Fr. Cameron mentioned a test given by a teacher friend to his students who often professed to be indifferent to their faith seeing it as "irrelevant." (Fr. Cameron begins discussing the test at 19:05 in the video below.) So he developed a "test" for his students -- no right or wrong answers -- it's a preference test. He instructed them to choose the answer they preferred, not what they thought or believed to be true, but which they preferred of the two options for each question.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

If you were caught in a terrorist situation tomorrow and, God forbid, were killed, would you be ready?

The very worst thing for any of us is, not to lose his life, but to lose eternal salvation. And that means, we need to be ready. Pray to St. Joseph that you will be ready at the moment of your death -- whether it is expected as the final end of a serious illness or is a shocking surprise from an accident or an act of violence.

Fr. Z did a great post on being ready. As he said, "A sudden death can be a blessing. A sudden and unprovided death is a horrifying prospect." I'm working on my relationship with St. Joseph, the patron of a happy death.

PRAYER FOR A HAPPY DEATH

O Glorious St. Joseph, behold I choose thee today for my special patron in life and at the hour of my death. Preserve and increase in me the spirit of prayer and fervor in the service of God. Remove far from me every kind of sin; obtain for me that my death may not come upon me unawares, but that I may have time to confess my sins sacramentally and to bewail them with a most perfect understanding and a most sincere and perfect contrition, in order that I may breathe forth my soul into the hands of Jesus and Mary. Amen

And if they were, would government officials tell the truth? Here's what World Net Daily is reporting:

Although it is not known yet who is responsible for Monday’s heinous bombings at the Boston Marathon that killed three and injured more than 100 people, a source within Iranian intelligence services told WND the Islamic regime was behind them and to look for trails through Sri Lanka and Bangladesh....Although the Islamic regime has long warned that America will not be safe from its reach and that it must not only accept Iran’s nuclear program but also end its support for the opposition in Syria, there is no proven link yet between Boston and Tehran.Read more here.

Chris Matthews never misses an opportunity to opine that the "far right" are guilty of terror acts. Before the smoke had even cleared in Boston, before police have any idea who perpetrated the atrocity, Matthews, in his typical demagogue style, was accusing "far right domestic terrorists." Somebody get the guy a muzzle. Nobody knows right now who did it. This morning The New York Times reported how little information is currently available. The options are open:

"The bombs could have been set off by radical Islamists from the United States influenced by events or clerics in the Middle East, local extremists on either the left or right, or deranged killers with no ideological agenda."

Hey, maybe it was Chris Matthews? Was he itching for another opportunity to attack the "far right?" Have the Boston cops checked his whereabouts? If it's a-okay to speculate about who did it with nary an iota of evidence, I guess it's okay for somebody to speculate that character assassin Chris Matthews may be movin' on up to the real thing.

Massive tweets have finally garnered the attention of national media to Kermit Gosnell, the Hannibal Lecter of abortion (not the only one to be sure). Embarrassment apparently did it. After all, how do the papers that claim to provide all the news ignore one of the bloodiest horror stories ever?

"Ultimately, the conspiracy of silence on Gosnell lies not with the press. It lies with the workers at the clinic who allegedly participated in barbarous acts or allegedly watched them happen and said nothing. It lies with members of the community who knew about the alleged deplorable activity and conditions at “Women’s Medical Society” and said nothing. And it lies with Philadelphia and Pennsylvania officials who fielded numerous credible complaints about Gosnell and did nothing."

"I say we didn’t write more because the only abortion story most outlets ever cover in the news pages is every singlethreatorperceivedthreattoabortionrights. In fact, that is so fixed a view of what constitutes coverage of that issue that it’s genuinely hard, I think, for many journalists to see a story outside that paradigm as news. That’s not so much a conscious decision as a reflex, but the effect is one-sided coverage."

Let's hope the mainstream media with egg on their faces decides to cover this on-going gruesome story. They can claim they aren't biased, but we all know where the media stands on "reproductive rights" and on "gay marriage." Either they are so blinded by their bias they actually don't see it or they are so committed to pushing their agenda they don't care. Thank God for alternative media. At least it prevents a total blackout -- U.S. Pravda style.

The first reading at Mass this morning was the stoning of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr.

The last thing he said before he died was "Lord, don't hold this sin against them." Can you imagine loving your murderers so much that you beg the judge for mercy while they are in the act of committing the murder? Wow!

Every morning I say the acts of faith hope and charity. The act of charity says, "O my Jesus, I love you with all my mind, heart, and strength and my neighbor as myself for love of you. I forgive all those who have sinned against me and ask pardon of all those whom I have sinned against through Christ our Lord. Amen."

Ah...how I wish I could be sure I really have forgiven those who have sinned against me since my own salvation depends on it. ("Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us....") But I know how often past hurts come to mind and stir up anger in my heart once again. Part of that is the natural result of being a choleric/melancholic temperament. But, oh, how I wish I would see others through the eyes of Jesus and Mary and desire nothing more than their salvation no matter how much they may have hurt me.

Solomon asked for an understanding heart. Perhaps if I pray every day for an understanding heart it will change the way I see all those who touch my life whether with kindness or with cruelty. Lord Jesus, make me more like St. Stephen through Christ our Lord.

Monday, April 15, 2013

This felt very personal since our daughter has qualified for Boston for next year and plans to run. Let us pray for those who are suffering because of this senseless act.Prayer for Victims of Terrorism

Loving God,Welcome into your arms the victims of violence and terrorism.Comfort their families and all who grieve for them.Help us in our fear and uncertainty,And bless us with the knowledge that we are secure in your love.Strengthen all those who work for peace,And may the peace the world cannot give reign in our hearts.

The death toll stands at three as of this evening. May the Divine Assistance always be with us and may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. May all those injured and in pain receive restoration to health and the consolation of the Holy Spirit.

All you have to do to know how evil this man is? Look at the jokes he cracked as he snipped babies' spines, slit their throats, cut off their arms and legs (for souvenirs?), and taught teenage workers to be as calloused as he is. "Butcher" is too kind a word for Kermit Gosnell. He is a monster as evil as Hannibal Lecter, only Gosnell is for real. They could make a horror movie about him.

Sometimes the best way to deal with the ridiculous is to...well...treat it like it's ridiculous! I nominate Marty Haugen, David Haas, Carey Landry, and Dan Schutte for Most Banal and Ridiculous Music Used in a Liturgical Setting.

And the winner is..........All of them because they all sound so boringly similar and silly.

One of mine is bad liturgical music. We have been getting it a lot at my parish since we got a new organist who couldn't wait to switch to the GATHER hymnal. Now we get heretical (and just plain banal) songs on a regular basis. You know...the "hymns" about how we take the bread and wine. (NOT! After the Consecration we receive the BODY and BLOOD of Our Lord. There is no more "bread and wine," only its appearance.) Then there are the pitifully inept lyrics. We care, we share, there's "hope in our despair." (Another heretical idea: despair is a SIN against hope.)

I had hoped the bad music was going to disappear with the liturgical changes, but some things are harder to get rid of than poison ivy and the 70s and 80s cabaret style "hymns" seems to be among them. One of this morning's choices had lyrics so ridiculous I couldn't sing them. I wouldn't have been able to stop laughing!

Don't get me wrong.Some of these songs have nice catchy tunes, but they could as easily be sung in a cocktail lounge or added to a Broadway show. They are about as "liturgical" as American Bandstand (I know, I'm dating myself.). If you find yourself wanting to sway to the music, it probably isn't appropriate for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

This is not an insignificant issue. Many terrible things have been fostered using music. Martin Luther wrote hymns to spread his bad theology. One of the reasons the Aryan heresy took the world by storm was through song. Think of the impact of rock music on kids spreading immoral lifestyles, violence, etc. Think of M-TV. Music can easily embed in the subconscious spreading ideas that are just plain wrong. (Remember these lyrics: "It can't be wrong cuz it feels so right?")

This question immediately set me to thinking about politics and politicians. Have you ever noticed how obsessively serious they are about themselves? Maybe it's because they have so much to hide and are working so hard to convince prospective voters they are the sincerest pumpkin in the pumpkin patch. But one of my favorite thinkers, G.K. Chesterton had both political parties pegged and obviously didn't take either of them as seriously as they take themselves. Here's his comment on politicians:

The whole modern world has divided itself into Conservatives and Progressives. The business of Progressives is to go on making mistakes. The business of Conservatives is to prevent mistakes from being corrected.

So whether you are progressive or a conservative, consider Chesterton's thought and realize you are likely to be wrong in either case. I think the ability to laugh at yourself is one of the marks of humility.

It's always such a joy to see how generous liberal rich guys are. We gave more to charity than the Bidens did and my husband makes a lot less. I make about $36 a month in SSI after they started taking out Medicare last year.

Saturday, April 13, 2013

This is nuts! Wake up, Christians. If you write a letter on stationery made in another state that criticizes the "gay" lifestyle, maybe you'll get 15 years in federal prison too! After all, hurting homosexuals' feelings by telling the truth about their diseases practices is an act of abuse.

Gant Desme left a likely career in the majors to enter St. Michael's Norbertine Abbey in Silverado, CA where he is studying for the priesthood. It confounds the world to see a young man with a major sports career ahead of him, quit to answer God's call. Of course, they prefer the world with all its empty pomps (and money) and honors (and money). I wonder. Whom would you rather be called by: God or the majors?

But can't you just hear the teenage girls lamenting the loss of "Fr. What-a-waste?" I mean handsome and likely to be rich as well. God will bless him for choosing Himself over Mammon. I'm adding Brother Grant to my rosary journal for daily prayers for his vocation to the priesthood. And I love the Norbertine Abbey in Silverado where several priest friends reside. It makes me smile to think of this young man being formed by those holy priests!

One can hope that this will result in actual reform, but alas, I am not encouraged by Cardinal O'Malley's appointment. Recall Cardinal O'Malley presiding at the near canonization of Teddy Kennedy, a big time scandal! Isn't that part of the problem, after all? Money gets the best seat at the table. ("Oh, Money, thank you for taking the best seat. Poverty, humility, orthodoxy...get out of the low seats. We don't want you even in the room!) For a look at how the media sees these cardinals go here.

Let us pray for the committee and the pope that true reform may come to the curia! Bureaucracies are so set in stone, it will be like trying to dig a basement in Austin where it's solid rock. Get out the dynamite!

Friday, April 12, 2013

What do you think about state Catholic conferences hiring lobbyists? Frankly, it makes me queasy. Not that Catholics don't have a right to make their collective voice heard about issues important to Catholics, but from my experience, the bishops are just as likely to support things to which I'm violently opposed. That a state bishop's conference would lobby for a position that is a matter of prudential judgment and frame it as "the Catholic position" is irresponsible. And it's happening all over the country. My friend who wrote the lettter below is spot on in his critique of the Virginia Catholic Conference lobbying efforts. Here's what he wrote to a priest of the Arlington Diocese:

Hi Father,

A little while ago I sent you a Michael Voris video. Thank you for your reply.

I get your point that those Voris criticizes, however accurately, will not like to hear it. I don’t think Voris is trying to win over those folks but only to intrude upon their self-satisfaction by speaking for the segment of the laity who already agree with him.

From this laymen’s perspective he's expressing what many of us think. The laity is on the receiving end of one-way communication so our perspective is not something all clergy can share. Still, one can refrain from rejecting the message and shooting the messenger because of style issues. Voris speaks mostly of faith, morals and liturgy but it's not just those which are sources of discontent with the Church’s appointed leaders. As an example of one-way communication that reflects (in my opinion) lack of solidarity and understanding of the working-class laity, I would refer you to page 19 of the Arlington Catholic Herald dated March 21-27, 2013.

This is a full-page report of the lobbying work during the Virginia Legislature's 2013 session by the Virginia Catholic Conference which the article describes as "the public policy agency of Virginia's two bishops and their dioceses." Actually it is simply the personal arm of two bishops and their employees. No more, no less. Bishop Loverde and his employees do not speak to the VA. Legislature in the name of anyone but themselves; certainly not for me or any laity that I know. In fact, I’m offended and embarrassed by their public stance.

The media normally loves a good gruesome story about a serial killer. Have a sniper running around shooting folks at random gas stations and their rubbing their hands in glee over a juicy story. Even better, a cannibalistic serial killer with pieces of human anatomy in the fridge. So the Kermit Gosnell trial should be right up their alley. And it would be if he were killing toddlers or teenagers. But his victims are the ones the media supports killilng -- babies in the womb. So they wouldn't want to show his gruesome serial killings - snipping babies' spinal cords. No, the media likes Gosnell just fine and they illustrate their support for his heinous acts by their silence. Now I wonder what they would be saying if the spinal cords he was snipping were attached to the heads of liberal reporters. Watcha think?

This is horrifying in view of the number of complications that occur when abortions are performed by doctors. What will it be like when they're performed by other "health care professionals." Who are we talking about exactly? Physicians assistants? R.N.s? L.P.N.s? The aide who empties the bedpans? How large was the pilot program that found "low rates of complications?" Suction abortion is a surgical procedure. Who would you want to perform surgery on you or your family?

Thursday, April 11, 2013

The fact is, that a group that represents about 2-3% of the population commits almost 40% of sex abuse against boys. And this case is no doubt just the tip of the iceberg. Remember Jeffrey Dahmer and his homosexual killing spree? And have you heard of Jessie Dirkhising?

And all the "tolerant" folks want homosexuals as boy scout leaders."Hell no!" should be any sane person's answer. While these men haven't gone to trial yet it's hard to imagine that all five of the kids who have reported abuse are lying. Poor kids! Like the grandfather said, they've been robbed of their childhood.

University of Detroit Mercy Law School: Mrs. Debbie Dingell, wife of Congressman John Dingell, pro-abortion, pro-Planned Parenthood activist....and a Catholic too boot. Talk about business as usual among the scandal-mongering Jebs. Good grief!

Santa Clara University Law School: Google's David Drummond who favors same-sex marriage.

Boston University hasn't announced their commencement speaker yet. Expect more scandals to be coming soon. We can always depend on the Jesuits. Pray that our Jesuit pope is not cut from the same cloth as the so-called "Catholic educators" with S.J. after their names.

If you want to see fur fly, talk about homosexuality. Mike Voris and Melinda Selmys have been engaged in an exchange about how to approach the homosexual issue and change hearts and minds. I'm following it and it occurred to me this morning that it's like the Battle of Manassas: brothers shooting at one another and lots of folks coming out with their picnics to watch the battle. The angels must be looking down saying, "Lord, what fools these mortals be." Some of the battle is revealed at one of my favorite blogs, Abbey Roads. I entered the fray myself with a comment on Terry's blog and I'll post it here for what it's worth. We have an obligation to love each other where we are even when we call each other to holiness. But sometimes the differences are so great it's hard to get close enough to hear one another. Please pray for all those fighting the homosexual agenda while trying to evangelize those caught up in the immoral lifestyle.

I'm not sure how I missed the on-going flap over J.C. Penney's dissing traditional marriage. Maybe it's because in 2012 my new year's resolution was not to buy any clothing so I didn't go into Penney's all year. Maybe it's because I don't watch much TV and rarely see commercials. Since I also get most of my news on the internet from Drudge, and the Catholic portals, maybe Penney's news was down the page. At any rate, I missed it until I posted something on Facebook about a frustrating experience with their on-line site. Pro-life friends slapped me with wet noodles about buying anything from Penney's. (I didn't actually.)

But if earlier Penney's headlines escaped my notice, I did caught the one below about the CEO's firing. Let's hope it heralds a return to sanity at the company because I've always enjoyed their store.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

...as Ponce de Leon to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Spain exploring Florida! And doesn't the priest playing Ponce de Leon look like Jim Caviezel? As my Florida friend wrote when she sent the video, "Here is our beautiful orthodox pastor last weekend in St. Augustine." Oh blessed St. Augustinians!

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Comments are moderated. Please be respectful. Argument (in the classical sense) is welcome, however crude, or obscene remarks will not be posted. I am more lenient with ad hominem attacks directed at me (no name-calling) since so many people these days don't seem to know how to engage in a discussion without them. No anti-Catholic comments will be posted. If you are a bigot, go somewhere else.